Plan across boards with Kanban, tables, calendars, Gantt timelines, and dependencies. Track priorities, progress, and changes with reporting, activity history, automations, notes, custom fields & AI agent attribution. Mobile-ready and self-hostable.
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Which is more popular?
Based on our record, Foam
seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned
49 times
since March 2021.
social mentions
49 vs 0
Note Taking popularity
46% vs 54%
Base details
Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.
Open Source Foam is an open-source tool, which means it is free to use and allows for community-driven development and contributions. Users can modify the source code to fit their specific needs.
Markdown Support Foam uses Markdown, a lightweight and easy-to-read syntax, making it simple to create and manage notes. This also allows for easy integration with other Markdown-based tools and platforms.
Integration with Visual Studio Code Foam is designed to work seamlessly with Visual Studio Code (VS Code). This provides users with a powerful and familiar text editor environment, complete with extensions and customization options.
Graph View Foam includes a graph visualization feature that helps users see and navigate the relationships between their notes, making it easier to understand and manage complex information.
Bidirectional Links Foam supports bidirectional links, allowing users to create connections between notes in both directions. This enhances the note-taking experience by enabling a more interconnected and dynamic information structure.
Community and Documentation Foam has a growing community of users and contributors, as well as comprehensive documentation. This support network helps users troubleshoot issues, share tips, and improve their knowledge of the tool.
Possible disadvantages
Limited to VS Code Foam relies on Visual Studio Code as its primary environment. Users who prefer different text editors or platforms might find this limitation restrictive and less convenient.
Learning Curve Although Foam leverages Markdown, users may still face a learning curve, especially if they are not familiar with VS Code or the specific features and extensions required to maximize Foam's capabilities.
Performance with Large Datasets Foam can struggle with performance issues when handling large datasets or a high number of notes. This can lead to slow response times and inefficient workflows.
Limited Mobile Support Foam is primarily designed for desktop use within VS Code, which means that mobile support is limited. Users looking for a seamless cross-platform experience might find this aspect lacking.
Customization Complexity While Foam offers a high degree of customization, setting up and configuring the tool to meet personal preferences and workflows can be complex and time-consuming for some users.
Integration with Apple Ecosystem Apple Notes is seamlessly integrated across all Apple devices, allowing users to access and synchronize their notes effortlessly on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and iCloud.com.
User-Friendly Interface The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it accessible for users of all experience levels to create, organize, and find notes quickly.
Rich Media Insertion Users can embed photos, videos, sketches, scans, web links, and documents into their notes, enabling a multi-faceted approach to note-taking.
Collaboration Features Users can easily share notes and collaborate with others, allowing for real-time edits and updates, making it ideal for group projects or shared lists.
Security Options Apple Notes offers the option to lock notes with a password or Face/Touch ID, providing enhanced privacy and security for sensitive information.
Possible disadvantages
Limited Cross-Platform Compatibility Apple Notes is primarily designed for use within the Apple ecosystem, which can be limiting for users who need cross-platform compatibility with non-Apple devices.
Basic Organization Features The app offers fundamental organizational tools such as folders and tags, but lacks more advanced features like nested folders or customizable views that other note-taking apps might provide.
No Advanced Formatting While Apple Notes supports basic text formatting, it does not support more advanced formatting options or styles that some power users may require.
Limited Export Options Exporting notes to other formats is quite limited, which can be a drawback for users who need to frequently share their notes with non-Apple users or in specific formats.
Storage Limitations with Free iCloud Account Users relying on the free tier of iCloud storage may find the space insufficient if they store a large number of rich-media notes, as it shares space with other iCloud data.
Analysis
An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.
FoamApple Notes
Overall verdict
Yes, Foam is a good tool for those seeking an open-source environment for note-taking and knowledge management, particularly if they appreciate an approach based on markdown files and integration within a powerful text editor like Visual Studio Code. Its flexibility and user-driven customization make it suitable for users who enjoy tweaking and optimizing their workspace according to their workflow.
Why this product is good
Foam is a personal knowledge management and sharing system inspired by Roam Research, offering an open-source solution built on top of Visual Studio Code. It provides users with capabilities to create and interlink notes using markdown files, offering flexibility and customization suited to personal preferences. Foam supports features like backlinking, graph visualization of notes, and integration with VS Code extensions, making it a robust tool for managing interconnected information effectively.
Recommended for
Individuals preferring markdown-based note-taking systems
Developers familiar with Visual Studio Code
Users who appreciate open-source software and community-driven projects
People interested in managing complex, interconnected knowledge bases
Overall verdict
Apple Notes is a solid choice for users who are deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, offering a well-rounded, reliable solution for casual note-taking and organization needs. Its features are continually being enhanced, ensuring that it remains competitive with other note-taking apps.
Why this product is good
Apple Notes is often praised for its seamless integration across Apple devices, ease of use, and secure cloud synchronization through iCloud. It offers a clean and straightforward interface, making it easy for users to jot down quick notes, organize lists, and add attachments such as photos and documents. Its ability to share and collaborate on notes in real-time adds to its utility, especially for users within the Apple ecosystem.
Recommended for
Apple Notes is recommended for Apple users who prioritize seamless device integration, simplicity, and security. It's particularly suited for individuals who frequently switch between Apple devices and need their notes to synchronize effortlessly. Additionally, it’s ideal for users who appreciate basic note-taking features without the need for extensive customization or third-party app integration.
Apple Notes is available for free on macOS/iOS devices. This app lets you type or take notes by hand or with the Apple Pencil. You can also add photos and videos or attach links to our notes.
There are actually lots of incredible note-taking apps available on Macs, iPads, and iPhones. I could legitimately have filled this spot with picks like Bear and Craft (both of which I love), but Apple Notes takes it...
Notes is Apple’s version of Google Keep (or Keep is Google’s version of Apple Notes). It’s a free, built-in, simple way to take notes, save photos, scan documents, and make sketches, provided you are using an Apple...
Choose a local Markdown tool like Obsidian, Logseq, Foam, or Tolaria to store all your knowledge as plain .md files you own and control.
- Source: dev.to
/
6 months ago
I've been using foam instead of obsidian for my personal knowledge base. It works rather well. And it's completely free and ultimately just markdown. While I might wish it was djot, I don't wish hard enough to make that so myself...
- Source: Hacker News
/
about 2 years ago
I Use Obsidian
I gave up on Obsidian and just use Foam (https://foambubble.github.io/foam/) and/or vimwiki. I just can’t get into overwrought, arbitrarily designed organization schemes or proprietary apps (Foam-managed content is just plain Markdown,...
- Source: Hacker News
/
over 2 years ago
Bring your life's work together in one digital workspace. Evernote is the place to collect inspirational ideas, write meaningful words, and move your important projects forward.
Get the OneNote app for free on your tablet, phone, and computer, so you can capture your ideas and to-do lists in one place wherever you are. Or try OneNote with Office for free.
Logseq
Obsidian
Zim Wiki
Nuclino
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TiddlyWiki
Roam Research
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Google Keep
Simplenote
Workflowy
